Loran or GPS? What's your preference?

[jedclampit]

Loran or GPS? What's your preference?


How many locals are still using loran?

I’ve not yet made the jump to GPS for coastal cruising, but I thought that the whole “loran thing” was going to be phased out here in the states.

My old Loran still get’s me within 10 meters so I’m still saving for a great sale before switching. Just curious!

Thanks

[Poida]

G'day Jed

In Australia GPS is not a brand name. Here GPS stands for Global Positioning System.

We have two main brands Lowrance and Navman.

I have a Navman but I'm not too happy with it as I can't see it in daylight, not a drawback on a product that would be used primarily during the day.

My unit is black and white and although I have found out since I bought it that colour is more visible, I still think that the unit that I bought should still be visible in daylight.

I have a Lowrance echo sounder that also has a black and white screen and is very clear so when I replace my GPS I will definately go for a Lowrance.

Poida

[hansp77]

oops poida :eek:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LORAN

[Mikey]

Loran...

No coverage where I would sail... Very low usage outside the US...

I am sure that it will be phased out one day but if it still working well where you sail, then I see no reason to replace it, yet... GPS units are still getting cheaper and cheaper (or offer more and more for the same money)

Mikey

[Spiderfarm]

More important than "Big Sale" for you - should be waypoint conversion and entry method - from your current loran to your anticipated GPS. If you really understand your loran, and use it. You should be concerned with translating your routes and waypoints to whatever target GPS system. Coast Guard has announced end of life for loran. They used to announce scheduled down time. Do A google serch on Navcen loran.

[yipster]

my preference?
any 100 bucks handheld gps with 12v in and nmea out to a laptop freeware chart
a radar overlay, autopilot etc be nice but havent used the stuff for years

[Poida]

Hanspp. Congratulations you have picked up my deliberate mistake. :p

Thank you for the Wikapedia education. I did not know what what Loran was and it appears that Loran is not used in Australia and I'm glad that I qualified my post by beginning "in Australia."

This makes everything I said in the post, dead accurate. However completely off the beaten track and now I look like a complete Dick Head in the international boat building fraternity.

By the way have you seen the "Marine Watch" website. Hails from NSW.

Hanging my head in shame
Poida

[hansp77]

Haven't seen the marine watch website.
got a link? I used to hail from NSW myself.

The only way I 'knew' about Loran was that I had read about it in a book somewhere doing research for an essay. I sorta knew it was a older radio nav system, but that was about it, so for me it was wikipedia to rescue (again). As it is not used here I don't think I have ever heard it talked about.

Chin up (dick head:p )
Hans.

EDIT- think I found marine watch (and if so ha ha:p )
http://www.police.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/SupportServices/images/watch_thumb.jpg

[safewalrus]

Loran? does it still exist? was it ever any use (since the fifties)? Rather use a mark one eyeball, a compass, a chart and a sharp pencil! You can do other things with them too, unlike a loran set whose only other use is as a fishing weight!:D

[Tim B]

I see no advantage over GPS. I have a hand-held mapping GPS for my racing dinghy. Cost £120 and is about the same size as a mobile phone. for a larger yacht I think I'd prefer a GPS mouse (about £50) and some mapping software (prob. GPSDrive since it runs under Linux). It also has the advantage that you can set up a track-log and analyse the data on a PC.

Tim B.

[safewalrus]

Tim

You got a GPS for your dinghy? what sort of world girdling trips do you do in that? do you need an echo sounder to take a bath - well the water might be a little deep! Were will the electronic world end and commonsense (used to be known as the practice of good seamanship) take over?

No I won't ask about frogs and grunters and things - it's just to inpolite!

[Raggi_Thor]

I think some Europeans like the fact that Loran-C is run by "us" and not the US. But I don't think there many new sales of Loran equipment, GPS is so much cheaper, isn't it?

http://www.jan-mayen.no/loran.htm

[Raggi_Thor]

Found this quite interesting:

Loran-C transmissions are also used for sending satellite positioning differential corrections (D.GPS) and several other services to users over a wide area. Eurofix provide excellent D.GPS data (often near 1 meter accuracy).

[Man Overboard]

Hey Safewalrus,
I met I guy this summer out on the big lake(Superior) he was carrying a GPS on his windsurfer; he uses it for accurate speed calculations. There was quite a stiff wind and about a 2 foot chop. I was impressed with how well he could windsurf, and at my age, he was impressed with how many times I could get back up onto a surfboard after falling.

[Tim B]

Safewalrus,

Yep, performance estimations (got a 30 yr old 2 man racing dinghy to 8.5kts singlehanded back in the summer) and the return to home function. Very handy when you're aiming for the dark bit in the middle of the dark bit. There's also a pipe and a tower just off my club, so it helps to know where it's safe to come in.

I've been wondering if I can log the output of some wind-instruments too. Get a proper polar estimation.

Tim B.

[Poida]

Mr Walrus
A GPS is also used for marking a spot as in fishing. Quite good at night.

It's a bit better than the Cornwall system of putting a mark on the side of the boat.:p

Poida

[Frosty]

I see no advantage over GPS. I have a hand-held mapping GPS for my racing dinghy. Cost £120 and is about the same size as a mobile phone. for a larger yacht I think I'd prefer a GPS mouse (about £50) and some mapping software (prob. GPSDrive since it runs under Linux). It also has the advantage that you can set up a track-log and analyse the data on a PC.

Tim B.


Great,-- fantastic-- and later in the afternoon you could find time to do a bit of sailing.

[Poida]

Sorry Jack what was that again?

[safewalrus]

Jacks got the hiccups, happens at his age!:o

'Overboard hows about a generator and a radar on the top of the mast, could see for miles then!:p

Poida - you know about that system then? works quite well sometimes (us do 'ave problems if there's a 'y' in the day, other wise very accurate):rolleyes:

[smenkhare]

G'day Jed

In Australia GPS is not a brand name. Here GPS stands for Global Positioning System.

We have two main brands Lowrance and Navman.
Poida

plus garmin and magellan. Both of which are extremely popular although more so garmin

[jeemboNC]

GPS systems took advantage of the evolution of Loran equipment, which uses Time Delay signals from ground based towers (arranged in 'chains') to triangulate position. Loran has pretty good repeatability - meaning it can return to an entered spot more accurately than if you enter the Lat/Lon or TD coordinates and go there. GPS is more accurate now that the DoD selectable 'dither' has been de-activated. It also has the advantage of not being affected by static charge (rain) like Loran. It does have to have a reasonably clear view of the sky (glass is okay). Loran will be de-commissioned soon, but for now it works just as always. I carry both types of navigation in my plane, in addition to the aviation-specific equipment (e.g. VORs). Add deduced reckoning and a map, and I have four means to get from A to B.

But in summary - GPS is the future and costs are continuing to decline (or capability increases at the same price).

My 2 cents.